Brake



L. E. LA BRIE BRAKE Filed Nov. 15, "1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 11/0550 5 LHBq/E m L. E. LA BRIE Nov. 17, 1936.

BRAKE Filed Nov. 15, 1930 s Sheets-Shh 2 1 sm rp n u l a INVENTOk. [005m 5 LFBR/E L. E. LA BRIE Nov. 17, 1936..

BRAKE Filed Nov. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 4.00051? 5 LABP/E' ATT Q Patented Nov. 17, 1936 v I I I mums Application November 15, 1930; Serial No. 495309 19 Claims. (01. resice) This invention relates-to brakes, and is iilus- Figure 9.is a fragmentary view disclosing the -trated as embodied in an internal expanding relative position oi the anchor member and left brake oi the shiitable-anchorage type. An obshoe of the brakeoi Figure 8 during the lining ject of the, invention is to provide a simple and clearance take-up movement of the brake.

effective arrangement, especially useful in a 'The brake shown in Figure 1 includes a ro- 5 brake ,of this type, of two alternatively-operable tatablexdnim ill, at the open side of which is applying devices, one preferably being a fluidarranged a supp'ort'such as a-backing plate l2, power device and the other preferably a floating and within which is arranged the brake friction lever serving as an emergency-brake connection. means. The latter is illustrated as includin UNITED- STATES PATBNTIV--OFHCE l0 A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of shoes l4 and ifivconnected by an ad- 10 balanced applying means to thrustv apart the .iustable floating joint 18, which in the term ends of this type of brake with equal force, in shown includes a 'right-and-left threaded memcombination with means for loading the brake ber seated in correspondingly-threaded sockets elements, constructed and arranged to cooperate having slotted bases to embrace the shoe ends.

' with the elements of the brake, the anchor and The shoes may be held against the adjustment is the applying means in maintaining a constant by a tensioned spring 20. Suitable steady rests engagement between the braking elements and 22 may be provided for the shoes. the anchor until such time as said elements co'n- 'Preferably a flat-sided anchor 24 is fixedly tact the revolving drum. The undesirable clic secured to the backing plate/(reinforced if nea or noise oi anchoring is thus avoided. In one essary by stai'npings 26), between the ends or 20 desirable arrangement, a fluid motoris arranged the shoes, the arrangement being such that when to force the braking elements apart with equal the drum is turning. clockwise the shoe I! aniorce, the return springs 01' the bra e being chors thereagainst, while it the drum is turnin constructed and arranged to maintain t e elecounter-clockwise the ,shoe l6 anchors thereg5 ments in anchor engagement until drum contact against. A return spring 28 1s tensioned beis efiected irrespective of the direction of drum tween the shoes. An auxiliary -return spring rotation. 30 may be tensioned between the anchor '24 and c Other features relate to the structure and ar-- the shoe It, to make sure that the latter shoe rangement of the fluid-power device, and of the (which is the one to anchor when'the vehicle is 3 floating lever, together with other novel and demoving forward) will not leave the anchor un- 80 sirable constructions which will be apparent less the drum is turning'backward and so over- Irom the following description or the illustrative comes this spring. embodiments shown in the accompanying draw- The brake is intended to be applied by either ings, in which:. of .two controls, Via. a fluid-power control for Figure 1 is a vertical section through the brake, service purposes and a mechanical control ior 85 just inside the headofthe brake drum, and emergency and parking purposes. Broadly, this showing the brake shoes in side elevation; type of combination applying means Iona shift- I Figure 2 is a partial section on the line 2 2 able-anchorage brake is disclosed ,andclaimed 01 Figure 1, showing the brake anchorage;,' in my prior application No. 491,589, filed Octo- Figure 3 is a partial section. on'the line 33 ber 2'1, 1930. 1 o oi! Figure 1, showing part of the mechanical ap- In the improvement covered by the present plying means; i v application, in the form shown in Figure 1, the Figure-i is a partial section corresponding-to fluid-power means includes aohydraulic cylinder Figure ,1, but showing a diflerent arrangement 32 secured to thabackingplate and containing a of the applying devices; pair of pistons provided with thrust or piston Figure 5 a partialsection on the line 5-5 of rods 34 having yokes 3'6 embracing the ends of Figure 4, wing the anchorage; the shoe webs and slotted for pivotal engagement Figure 6 is a partial section corresponding to with cross pins I8 mounted in the'shoe'webs. Figures 1 and 4, but showing a third arrange- The slots inyokes :6 allow the application or the 60 ment of the applying devices; brake by the mechanical (emergency) means Figure .7 is a partial section on the line 1-1 without aiiecting the fluidpower means. I

' 01 Figure 6, showing the' anchorase of this third The mechanical means of Figure 1, includes a I brake; lever 40 slotted at its end to embrace the lower Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing pin II, and pivoted to a thrust rod or link 42 amodifled form of brake construction; and having at its upper end a .yoke 44 slotted to 55 engage pivotally with a cross pin 48 carried by the web of shoe I4. .The slots in lever 40 and' yoke 44 allow the application of the brake by the fluid-power means without affecting the mechanical means.

Lever 40 is shown operated by a cable or the like 48, provided if desired with a guide 80 mounted on the backing plate, and connected,

through ,the medium of a bellcrank lever 82' pivoted 6n the backing plate with a cable 59 passing through an opening in the backing plate The mechanical means, however, is in the form of a'floating lever 80 having thrust projections 82 3 extending between the shoe ends .on opposite v for cable 54.

sides of the anchor 24. lever is connected to and actuated by a cable 84,

shown surrounded by a return spring 88. Cable 84 extends through an opening inthe backing plate and through a Bowden conduit, as described In the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7, the mechanical control is the same as in Figures 4 and 5, but the fluid control includes a hydraulic cylinder 10 bolted rigidly to the web of shoe l8 and containing a single piston I2 pivotally engaged by the rounded end of a thrust or piston rod I4. Rod 14 is slotted across its end to embrace and pivotally engage the end of the web of shoe I4. I have shown in-Figure 6 two return springs I28 tensioned between the respective, shoes andthe anchor .24, the lower spring I28 preferably being stronger than the upper one.

In Figure 8 there is disclosed a structure generally similar to that of Figure 1, with the principal exception of the construction and arrangement of the parts, particularly designed to obviate the objectionable anchoring click of the brake. The spaced apart endsof the shoes are preferably recessed to conform to a round anchor member 88, springs 82, 84 and 88 serving to maintain the shoes snugly against the anchor in brake-off position.

In operation, the fluid pressure of the motor forces the toe of shoe l4 toward the drum, shoe l8 remaining anchored by virtue of the loading effect of spring 82.

It is of particular significance, that during thi lining clearance take-up phase of the brake operation,-the lower portion of shoe 14 remains in contact with the anchor-as indicated in Figure 9. This is due to the coacting contours of the shoe and anchor as well as the relative strengths and arrangement of the springs 82, .84 and 88. This construction and. arrangement of parts is such as to give a substantially radial movement'tothe shoe H in a direction indicated bythe arrow A,

Figure 9, the direction of. thrust of the shoe against the anchor being indicated by the arrow B; which is"- substantially at right angles with the direction A. i 'After the shoe is in contact with the clockwise I revolving drum, the latter serves to drive the shoe l4 by a wrapping eifect into full anchoring engagement and this effect is supplemented by the upward component of the spring-84 and the shoe l4 acting as a lever with its fulcrum at the anchor. The spring 84 also tends to rock shoe I 8 about the eccentric stop as a fulcrum which The upper end of-the brings the toe of shoe l8 into drum engagement to augment the applying eifect of the fluid motor 32 in overcoming springs 82 and 88. The shoe I4 is thus eased into drum engagement without clicking and without at any time leaving the anchor, the shoe I8 being effectively applied. to subsequently function as a servo or driving shoe in applying shoe I4 to the drum.

Figure 6 is also shown in and is claimed in my copending application Serial No. 691,746. Generic claims and claims specific to Figures 1, 4 and 8 are included herein.

I claim: .i-

1. A brake ofthe shiftable' anchorage type comprising friction means provided with ends, fluid power means for spreading said ends apart,

' and a single mechanically operated lever formed with lugs contacting directly with the ends of said friction means for alternatively spreading 3 "said ends apart. I

2. A brake of the shiftable anchorage type comprising friction means provided with ends, fluid power means for spreading said ends apart, and

a single floating lever formed with lugs contacting directly with the ends of said friction" means for alternatively spreading said ends apart.

3. A brake comprising a drum, in combination with floating friction means having a fixed anchor between its ends, and two applying devices acting to force said ends apart and one of which includes a single floating lever formed with lugs contacting directly with said friction means between the ends of the friction means and the other of which includes a cylinder containing a pair of pistons acting respectively adjacent to said ends. 1

'4. A'brake comprising a drum, in combination the drum is turning in one direction and at the direction, a floating lever having thrust partsarranged between said ends, and a fluid-power del 1 with friction means anchoring-at one end when vice adjacent said ends and acting on the fric- 65 tion means near said ends.

5. A brake comprising a drum, in'coinbination with friction means anchoring at one end when the drum is turning in one direction and at the other end when the drum is turning in the other direction, a floating lever having thrust parts ar-' ranged between said ends, and a fluid-power device adjacent said ends comprising a wheel cylinder, a pair of pistons in -said cylinder, and a pair "of piston rods each engaging one of said pistons and each pivotally engaging the frictipn means near'said ends.

6. A brake of the shiitable anchorage type comprising'a rotatable drum, an anchor member,

friction elements having ends normally contacting said anchor ,member, meansfor separating the ends of said elements apart to apply thee brake, .said means acting with equal force on each of saidelements, together with means within the brake and acting upon the"'friction elements, said means insuring a constant contact 0 pendently of said anchor for separating of bothof said elements and constant anchoring contact of one of said elements during the lining clearance take up phase in the application of the brake. A

7. A brake of the shiftable anchorage type comprising a rotatable drum, an anchor member, friction elements having ends normally contactin'g said anchor member, a fluid motor for separating the ends of said elements apart to apply the brake, said means acting with equal force on each of said elements, together with means within the brake and acting upon the friction elements, said means insuring a constant contact of both of said elements and constant anchoring contact of one of said elements during the lining clearance take up phase in the application of 'the brake.

8. A brake mechanism comprising friction elements having spaced apart ends, an anchoring member between said spaced apart ends, an ap-. plying means associated with said elements .for separating said ends, together with means acting on the elements, said latter means being so constructed and -so arranged with 'respect to the afore-mentioned structure as to predetermine a substantially radial movement to at least one of said ends and at the same time maintain said end in contact with said anchor by a thrust in a direction substantially normal to said radial movement while the other end is maintained stationary. z

9. A brake comprising a drum in combination with friction means anchoring at one end when the drum is turning in one direction and at the other end when the drum is tuming in the other direction, a lever having thrust parts arranged between said ends, a cylinder also between said "ends, and a pair of pistons in thecylinder, one acting on the friction means near one of said ends and the other acting on the friction means near the other of said ends.

10. A brake comprising a drum in combination with friction means anchoring at one end when the drum is turning in one direction and at the other end when'the drum is turning in the other direction a floating lever having thrust parts arranged between said ends, a cylinder also between said ends, and a pair of pistons in the cylinder, one acting on the friction means near one of said ends and the other acting on the friction means near the other of saidends. 11. In a braking apparatus, in combination with a drum; a backing plate therefor; an expansible floating friction brake in said drum having adjacent separable free ends; an anchor associated with-and arranged adjacent tosaid ends; hydraulic means arranged adjaeent to said ends and engageable with the ends of said brake indesaid ends ,to expand the brake into engagement with the drum, said'hydraulic means comprising a wheel cylinder, and a pair ofpistons in said cylinder,

h each adapted to exert applying force on said brake; and additional meansengageable with said brake for separating saidends, said additional means comprising a floating lever having thrust par-tsbearing on the ends of saidoexpansible brake independently of both said anchor 0 and said hydraulic means for separating said ends to expand the brake. r '12. A brake comprising a drum, in combination with a friction device anchoring at one end when th drum is turning in one direction and at the other end when the drum is turning in the other direction, a floating applying means comprising a lever arranged adjacent to said ends and having thrust parts for separating said ends, another floating applying means comprising a hydraulic cylinder arranged adjacent to said ends, and a pair of floatingpistons in said cylinder one arranged adjacent to one of said ends and the I other arranged adjacent to the other of said ends and both arranged to separate said ends, said hydraulic applying means and lever applying means being arranged to spread said ends independently of each other.

13. A brake comprising a drum, in -combination with friction means anchoring at one end when the drum is turning in one direction and at the other end when the drum is turning in the other direction; a floating lever arranged adja brake havingadjacent free ends; hydraulic means arranged adjacent to said ends and engageable with said brake for separating said ends to expand the brake into engagement with the drum, said means comprising a wheel cylinder, and a pair of pistons in saidcylinder, each adapted to exert applying force on said brake; additional means engageable with said brake for separating said ends, said additional means comprising a floating lever, and a thrust element connected to one of said shoes adjacent to the end thereof and pivotally connected to said floating lever at an intermediate point of the floating lever; and means for pivotally connecting the end of the floating lever to the other shoe adjacent to the end of the shoe and to an end of the lever.

15. In a braking apparatus, the combination of a drum; a backing plate therefor; an expansible brake having adjacent free ends, hydraulic means arranged adjacent to said ends and engageable with said brake for separating said ends to expand the brake into engagement with the *drum, said means comprising a wheel cylinder,

and a pair of pistons in said cylinder, each adapted to exert applying force on said brake, and

additional means engageable with said brake for separating said ends, said means. comprising a floating lever, a cable connected to one end of said lever, a conduit connected to said backin plate and inclosing a portion of said cable, a strut link pivotally connected to said lever intermediate its ends and'arranged to bear on 'saidbrake adjacentone of its ends, and a thrust part including a pivot pin positioned adjacent to the opposite end of said lever for acting on the brake adjacent to the other end of said brake to urge said last named end in a direction opposite to that in which the strut link is adapted to urge the first named end. j

16. A brake comprising a drum, in combination with a friction device anchoring at one end when the drum isturning in one direction and at the other end when the drum is turning in the other direction, an anchor arranged adjacent to said ends for taking braking'torque from said ends, a

4 cylindeenarranged adjacent to said ends, a pair of float g pistons in said cylinder one arranged adjacent to one of said ends and-the other adiacent to the other of said ends and both arranged to separate said ends, said anchor being arranged to take the braking torque from said ends independently of said applying means and said hydraulic applying means and lever applying means Y being arranged to act to spread said ends independently of each other.

17. A brake comprising a drum, in combination with a friction device anchoring atone end-when the drum is turning in one direction and at the other end whn the drum is turning in the other direction, ananchor adjacent to said-ends for takingbraking torque from said ends, afloating applying means comprising a floating lever arranged adjacent to said ends and having-thrust parts for separating said ends and another floating applying means comprising a hydraulic cylinder arranged adjacent to said ends, a pair of floating pistons in said cylinder one arranged adjacent to one of said ends and the other arranged 1 adjacent to the other of said ends and both arranged to separate said ends, said anchor being arranged to take the braking torque from said ends independently of said applying means and said hydraulic applying means and lever applying means being arranged to act to spread said ends independentiy of each other, a returnspring connected to said friction device adjacent to said ends and positioned between said anchor said cylinder, said ev r acting on brie end of said frictiondevice in line with the line of'thrust of said hydraulic cylinder and said lever acting on the other end of said friction device at a point offset of the said line of thrust of the hydraulic cylinder.

18. A brakecoinprising a drum, in combination with friction means anchoring atone end when the drum; is turningiinone, direction and at the other end when the drum is turning in the other direction, a floating lever having thrust parts arranged adiacentto said ends for. spreading said ends apart to apply the friction means and a fluid power device adjacent said ends and comprising i for spreading said ends apart to apply'the frictionmeans and a fluid power device adjacent said ends and comprising a wheel cylinder, and. a pair of floating thrust parts in said cylinder each er" ranged to engage said friction meansfor spreadingsald ends apart to apply the friction means. 

